Refueling a UAV mid-air

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The U.S navy plans to test aerial refueling capabilities on its experimental carrier-launched UAV. The X-47B, an unmanned aerial vehicle, will be tested in the coming months, Naval Air Systems Command officials told USNI News.

This follows a $64 million June 2014 contract awarded to Northrop Grumman Corporation, which extended the testing schedule of the Navy’s two X-47Bs launched off carriers, and continues autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) research.

Advocates for a more heavily armed and stealthy UCLASS (unmanned carrier launched airborne surveillance and strike) say that AAR is essential for extending the range of the aircraft for deep penetrating strikes. And the research and testing come as part of the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program.

“These efforts include additional [carrier] detachments and AAR software coding through the remainder of this calendar year,” said NAVAIR (Navy Naval Air Systems Command) program manager Capt. Beau Duarte in a statement. “If resources allow, the Navy may demonstrate autonomous engagement flight testing in fiscal year 2015.”

NAVAIR is already conducting AAR tests with a surrogate aircraft, in order to test the X-47B software. The software allows the test plane to mimic the interaction between the tanker and the aircraft receiving the fuel, but stops short of mid-air refueling. Though according to USNI News, one of the two X-47Bs is already equipped with an aerial refueling capability. The two UAVs have names suitable for aircraft launching off a boat: they’re called Salty Dog 501 and Salty Dog 502.